Grain distributor



Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. FREEMAN GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1964 Figs; 5 9

INVENTOR. Andrew J. Freeman Fig, 3 a

Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. FREEMAN GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1964 I NV ENTOR.

m M m E J1. H J. m 7 n United States Patent T 3,232,45s GRAIN DHSTREBUTOR Andrew J. Freeman, 765 Bexley Road, West Lafayette, Ind. Filed Mar. 16, 1964, Scr. No. 351395 (Ilaims. (Cl. 214-17 This invention relates generally to grain distributors and more particularly to such devices which are adapted to be utilized for receiving grain from an elevating spout and distributing the grain within a storage bin.

The prior art discloses different types of devices adapted to cooperate with elevatin spouts for filling silos and grain bins. The prior art devices have been found to be unsatisfactory where it is desired to fill grain bins wherein artificial drying apparatus is utilized for applying heat for drying the grain. It has been found that conventional distributing devices do not distribute the grain uniformly over the entire area of the bin. The result is that the grain is packed with greater density in some portions of the bin than in others. As a result, the grain does not dry uniformly in all portions of the bin, and when the heated air is circulated through the bin, some of the grain is heated excessively while other portions of the grain are heated insufficiently. Thus, it is necessary to apply heat for a longer period of time than necessary in order to accomplish drying of all of the grain in the bin.

The principal object of this invention is to provide grain distribution apparatus for filling grain bins which will distribute the grain evenly over the entire area of the bin.

Another object of the invention is to provide grain distributing apparatus which is capable of distributing the grain so that there will be uniform porosity and density throughout the bin, thereby to achieve uniform air flow through the grain and uniform drying of the grain.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a grain distributor for filling grain bins, and the like, comprising a rotatable drum adapted to receive grain from a bin-filling spout, a distributor table rotatably mounted beneath said drum for receiving grain from said drum, and drive means coupled to the drum and the table for rotating the drum at a relatively slow rate and for rotating the table at a relatively fast rate, thereby to spread grain evenly over the area of the bin.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts cut away illustrating the grain distributor of this invention as it is mounted within a grain bin.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the grain distributor as provided in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the grain receiving drum Which is employed for receiving grain from the bin filling spout.

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective a plurality of different bottom plates which may be employed in the grain receiving drum.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, this invention comprises a grain distributor 19 which may be suspended at the top of and centrally of a conventional grain bin -11 for receiving grain such, for example, as wheat, oats, corn, and the like, from a filling spout 12. Externally of and adjacent the lower end of the bin there may be provided a conventional dryer 14 for forcing hot air through the grain stored in the bin. The grain distributor 1t) distributes grain received from the spout evenly throughout the area of the bin so that it will have uniform porosity 3,232,458 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 and density to provide uniform flow of hot air from the dryer and consequent uniform drying of the grain.

The distributor It) comprises a frame consisting of a lower ring member 16, an upper ring member 17 and vertical connecting rods 18 which may be welded or otherwise attached to the rings 16 and 17 to support them in spaced relation to one another. A base memher 26 may be welded or otherwise attached to the rods 18 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. A shaft 22 is rotatably supported within a bearing 23 which, in turn, may be supported within a collar 24 bolted as shown to the base 20. A setscrew 25 may be employed for holding the bearing 23 within collar 24. The upper end of shaft 22 is connected in any suitable manner to a drum 26 having a cylindrical wall and a bottom strut member 2'7 adapted to support a floor plate 28. A thrust bearing 29 may be fixed to shaft 22 whereby the shaft is prevented from falling downwardly through bearing 23, and bearing 23 serves to carry the Weight of the drum.

A grain distributing table 31 may be rotatably mounted on bearing 23 by means of a bearing collar 32. For providing vertical support of table 31, hearing washers may be interposed between the collar 24 and the bearing 32, as indicated at 33. Table 31 includes two sets of radially disposed and vertically projecting rib members 34- and 35, the purpose of which will be described. Ribs 34 are disposed at right angles to one another and include sloping surfaces at angles of approximately 45 to the surface of the table. Ribs 35 are also dis posed at right angles to one another and are located midway between the ribs 34. It will be evident from Figs. 2 and 3 that ribs 35 are higher than ribs 34 and their surfaces are at angles of approximately 60 with respect to the surface of the table.

The base 2t may include a downwardly extending bracket member 37 to which may be mounted a motor 38 having a drive wheel 39 for engaging the flange portion 46 of the table, thereby to rotate the table.

For driving the drum 26 there is provided a motor 42 supported from a bracket 43 which may be attached to portion 37 of the base. A conventional flexible coupling 45 may be employed for connecting motor 42 to shaft 22, whereby the drum 26 may be driven.

For hanging the distributor from the top portion of a bin there are provided a plurality of hangers 47, each of which has a hook portion 48 adapted to engage the top or" the bin. Also supported from the ring 17 is a funnel 4? which may be attached to ring 17 by a plurality of bracket members 50. The funnel serves to collect grain falling from the spout 12 and discharge the grain centrally of the drum 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, this invention includes a plu rality of bottom plates 52, 53, 54, 55, each of which is formed to provide one or more slots adjacent the wall of the drum 2%. Thus, there may be provided slots of different configurations and sizes which have been found to be advantageous for handling different types of grain. Also, the slots of different sizes make it possible to vary the rate at Which grain is handled by the distributor. For example, it is intended that the distributor shall be used in bins of different sizes and, consequently, it is desirable to provide a distributor capable of handling 500 bushels per hour up to 2200 bushels per hour. The floor plate 28 is permanent, and plates 52, 53, 54, 55, are interchangeable, each being provided with holes 56 so that each plate may be mounted within the drum over the end of shaft 22 and over a pair of locating pins 57 which are fixed in any suitable manner to the member 27.' PEG. 3 illustrates plate superimposed on plate 28.

Experimental use of this invention has shown that its operation is improved by cutting away a portion of the drum 26 as illustrated at 59 and slidably attaching an adjustable gate member 60 to the drum wall by means of thumb screws 61. The gate 60 may be adjusted to extend downwardly below the level of the floor plate 28 as shown in FIG. 3 so that grain discharged through the slot portion 62 will fall on to the table 31.

The drum 26 is also provided with a grain deflector 64, the inner end of which is attached at 65 to strut member 27 by welding or other suitable means. The outer end of member 64 includes a deflector member 66 which projects downwardly beyond the edge of table 31. Member 66 includes an inwardly directed flange 67 which, together with member 66, serves to deflect a certain amount of grain coming off the table 31 downwardly in the central portion of the bin so that the center of the bin will fill at the same rate as the outer portions thereof. The sloping portion 68 of member 64 intercepts a certain amount of grain coming out of the drum and causes it to drop within an area approximately 3 ft. to 5 ft. from the center of the bin to insure that this area will fill at the same rate as the remainder of the bin.

In operation, the grain distributor, as described herein, may be hung from the central portion of the bin 11 as shown in FIG. 1 so that grain may drop through the funnel 49 to the drum 26. One of the faults of prior art grain distributors is that they fail to evenly distribute grain because they are not centered accurately with respect to the stream of grain coming out of the spout 12. The drum 26 and table 31, as provided in accordance with this invention, causes even distribution of grain even though the funnel 49 is not accurately centered with respect to the stream of grain. Grain can fiow out of one side of the funnel 49 to the drum and even distribution is accomplished. Drum 26 is driven at a relatively low rate of speed, for example, 3-8 r.p.m., while table 31 is driven at a relatively high rate of speed, for example, 350650 r.p.m. Grain falling into the drum flows under the influence of centrifugal force outwardly of the center thereof and downwardly through the slot 62 on to the table 31. Gate 60 extends downwardly slightly beyond the level of plate 28 so that all grain flowing through slot 62 will fall on to table 31. The relatively low fins 34 throw a certain percentage of the grain at a relatively low velocity through a relatively high are, while the relatively high fins 35 throw the grain at a higher velocity but through a lower are. Some of the grain hits the roof of the bin, but a major portion of it hits the wall of the bin. Actual use shows that the over-all result is that that grain hits the roof and the wall of the bin at different angles and velocities whereby there is even distribution throughout the area of the bin. As previously mentioned, the deflector 64 serves to provide a sufiicient flow of grain to the central area of the bin so that it fills at the same rate as the outer areas of the bin.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention provides a grain distributing apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in grain bins where artificial heat is applied for drying of the grain. The uniform distribution of grain insures uniform porosity .and density throughout the bin and, hence, there is uniform drying of the grain without accumulation of excessive heat in some portions of the bin and insufficient heat in other portions of the bin. The uniform heating throughout the bin reduces the time period required for drying and, thus, provides maximum efliciency of the heating apparatus.

The invention claimed is:

1. A grain distributor for filling grain bins and the like comprising a frame, a base member attached to the lower portion of said frame, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said base, a grain distributing table rotatably mounted on said shaft, a grain receiving drum fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith above said table, a first motor supported on said base and coupled to said table for rotating it on said shaft at a relatively high speed, a a second motor supported on said base and coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said drum at a relatively slow speed, said drum including a bottom member cut away to form a peripheral slot for discharging grain downwardly to said table, and said table including radially disposed ribs for engaging grain as it falls from said drum and hurling it outwardly from said table.

2. A grain distributor for filling grain bins and the like comprising a support member, a shaft rotatably mounted on and vertically of said support member, a grain receiving drum fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, said drum including a bottom plate formed to provide a discharge slot adjacent the periphery of the drum, means for removably supporting said plate whereby plates of different configuration may be mounted on said supporting means, a distributor table rotatably mounted with respect to said support member and disposed to receive grain discharged from said drum, and drive means coupled to said drum and said table for spreading grain over an area below said table.

3. A grain distributor for filling grain bins and the like comprising a support member, a shaft rotatably mounted on and vertically of said support member, a grain receiving drum fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and formed to provide a discharge slot in its bottom, said drum having a vertically adjustable wall portion adjacent said slot, a distributor table rotatably mounted with respect to said support member and disposed to receive grain discharged from said drum, and drive means coupled to said drum and said table for spreading grain over an area below said table.

4. A grain distributor for filling grain bins and the like comprising a support member, a shaft rotatably mounted on and vertically of said support member, a grain receiving drum fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and formed to provide a discharge slot in its bottom, a distributor table rotatably mounted with respect to said support member and disposed to receive grain discharged from said drum, and drive means coupled to said drum and said table for spreading grain over an area below said table said drive means comprising means for driving said drum at a relatively slow speed and means for driving said table at a relatively high speed.

5. A grain distributor for filling grain bins and the like comprising a support member, a shaft rotatably mounted on and vertically of said support member, a grain receiving drum fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith and formed to provide a discharge slot in its bottom, a radially disposed deflector extending across said slot in downwardly sloping relation thereto, a distributor table rotatably mounted with respect to said? support member and disposed to receive grain discharged from said drum, said deflector including at its outer end an extension disposed opposite the periphery of said table, and drive means coupled to said drum and said table for spreading grain over an area below said table.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,001,465 9/1961 Donelson l98-l28 X EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR FOR FILLING GRAIN BINS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON AND VERTICALLY OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A GRAIN RECEIVING DRUM FIXED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND FORMED TO PROVIDE A DISCHARGE SLOT IN ITS BOTTOM, SAID DRUM HAVING A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE WALL PORTION ADJACENT SAID SLOT, A DISTRIBUTOR TABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND DISPOSED TO RECEIVE GRAIN DISCHARGED FROM SAID DRUM, AND DRIVE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID DRUM AND SAID TABLE FOR SPREADING GRAIN OVER AN AREA BELOW SAID TABLE. 